Summer progress for container gardens

Container Garden Success with before and after pictures

This is how the container gardens began. I was worried honestly, but I think the delayed warmer temps and heavy rains here in Georgia worked a like magic for my plants this year. I went to Home Depot and the plant specialist was there. She was very helpful in suggesting plants for container gardens. In total I only spent around $34.00 for all of the plants including two vine poles for my jasmine, a tiny hydrangea, soil, and a hanging basket of creeping jenny.

Pot one included the following plants

• 1 Purple knight
• 2 Sweet potato vine
• 1 Portulaca (magical succulent that opens and closes during the day)
• 1 Spike

Pot two included the following plants

• Petunias-dead in a week :(
• 2 sweet potato vine
• 1 Portulaca
• 1 Spike

Before:  Planted in May.

After with open Portulaca. July 1

After with closed Portulaca. (After pictures were taken the same day July 1)

                            After

Laundry room Perk up

Ahh Laundry.... This is the chore that never ends at House Charming. I decided to add a little beauty to the tiny space. I will say that though it is small it is awesome because of the laundry chute. 

  I was perusing a site that I think I am in love with, http://www.tipjunkie.com/, and they had a post about laundry room makeovers. 

I was inspired, so I headed to the Dollar Tree for frames and found a lovely print of contact paper/shelf liner. I also picked up wall stickers. I recycled a vase and picked some flowers from my garden--wisteria and azaleas. I covered a pickle jar with some of the liner paper to create a "tip jar" for coins found in the washer. I am considering sewing a valance for the tiny window in there and will definitely go to Hobby Lobby for letters. This is the progress so far.

 Tip jar on the dryer.

 I lined the cardboard back with liner paper and stuck a wall sticker to the glass.

 Flowers from my garden.

Awesome laundry chute.

Teenage Room Makeover

Charming 2013

Perfectly imperfect. I love this photo because it is a metaphor for my approach and struggle with homemaking and embellishing. For instance, we carefully posed for this photo which was carefully coordinated with my chocolate and gold decor and there is a roll of wrapping paper front and center of the tree. I laugh because that's the key to enjoying the never-ending process of home improvement. You have to accept some of the imperfections and consider them charming.

Looking ahead to 2013 I have some projects in mind. It is time for maintenance on interior paint and hardwood dings. I would like to decorate the guest bedroom upstairs and attack the landscaping in the backyard. Happy New Year!!!

Read my palms. New plants for House Charming.

Mosquitoes abound but we managed to get phase 1 of the bay window garden finished. We have to add another row of plants and mulch. We bought a pump for a custom fountain but haven't quite decided whether we will add one to this area.

Mailbox

We repainted the post and painted our family name on the box. The mailbox garden is a mixture of perennials and annuals. They are not in their glory days in this picture. I have to refresh the annuals soon. I am thinkng of using coleus for the rest of the summer through to winter. More much is needed. The black mulch looks like soil so I may use red or brown this time.